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Tom Carper on EnvironmentDemocratic Sr Senator (DE) | |
Proponent's Argument for voting Yes: Mr. WHITEHOUSE: This measure was part of the RESTORE Act, [but] this piece of it fell out of the bargain. If you supported the RESTORE Act, you have already supported this bill. If you believe that deals should be deals in the Senate, then you should support this bill. It is very important that we as a body support this bill. It does not create a single extra bureaucracy or person. It works within the existing government, and it adds no funding.
MississippiRiverDelta.org Summary of RESTORE Act: The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) dedicates 80% of all Clean Water Act penalties paid by those responsible for the 2010 gulf oil disaster to Gulf Coast restoration.
Proponent's press release supporting Yes vote: The National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes Act would provide steady funding that universities, non-profit organizations, and government agencies can count on every year to support research and restoration projects. It would be funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy. Revenue is generated through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments. Funds from the Endowment would be distributed through a competitive grant program to fund projects to restore habitat, manage fisheries, plan for sustainable coastal development, enhance ocean monitoring and research activities, acquire coastal properties for preservation, and relocate critical coastal infrastructure.
Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Rep. OBEY (D, WI-7): The cash for clunkers program has proven even more wildly popular than its strongest supporters had predicted. Just last month, Congress passed the program, which provided up to $4,500 if you trade in your old gas guzzler for a new car that gets better mileage. That was done in the hopes of spurring some new car sales and encouraging people to be a little more environmentally friendly. We provided $1 billion in the supplemental to get it going, enough for about 250,000 sales--which was just about exhausted in one week. This bill transfers $2 billion from the Department of Energy's Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee program, which doesn't expect to award funding until late next year.
Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. LEWIS (R, CA-41): In the majority's haste to slam legislation with no time for consideration or amendments, we are now seeing the effects of such shortsighted martial law tactics.
Senator Feinstein tried to negotiate some changes to improve the program but was told that it was this way or the highway. Not one hearing on the Cash for Clunkers program, not one hearing on how the first billion dollars has been spent, not one hearing on how much money the program will need to get through the fiscal year.
Many of my colleagues will say, This is a great program, and it is necessary for the revitalization of the car industry. I'm not really going to argue with those goals. However, are we sure this program is working like it's supposed to? I don't think so. This program has only been up and running 1 week. If that is how the government is going to handle billion-dollar programs affecting all Americans, I ask, Whatever will we do if the administration takes control of our health care system?
Proponents support voting YES because:
Sen. CRAIG: "Eminent domain was elevated greatly as an issue following a highly controversial 2005 Supreme Court decision known as Kelo vs. The City of New London. Since that decision, we as a nation have allowed state & local governments to utilize eminent domain to force landowners to yield their property to private development. Farmers and ranchers in particular have become vulnerable to state and local governments taking their property for economic development or open space designations. My amendment is a very targeted amendment. It addresses only cases in which private working agricultural land is taken and turned into public open space."
Opponents recommend voting NO because:
Sen. HARKIN: This amendment doesn't reach the Kelo decision [because Kelo was about taking open space for private development]. Under this amendment they can still do that.
CRAIG. Oh, I disagree totally. We reach a portion of Kelo that is now most frequently impacting farms and ranches, and that is open space for open space.
HARKIN. The amendment has the Federal Government telling a local government what it can and cannot do within its own jurisdiction.
Letter from the National Conference of State Legislatures & US Conference of Mayors:
"This amendment is not only ill-advised, but it is also unconstitutional [because it] preempts state & local land use laws. The 5th Amendment expressly permits the taking of private property for public use provided just compensation is provided to the owner. The power of eminent domain has always been, and should remain, a state and local power."
The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the political voice of the national environmental movement and the only organization devoted full-time to shaping a pro-environment Congress and White House. We run tough and effective campaigns to defeat anti-environment candidates, and support those leaders who stand up for a clean, healthy future for America. Through our National Environmental Scorecard and Presidential Report Card we hold Congress and the Administration accountable for their actions on the environment. Through regional offices, we build coalitions, promote grassroots power, and train the next generation of environmental leaders. The 2003 National Environmental Scorecard provides objective, factual information about the environmental voting records of all Members of the first session of the 108th Congress. This Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which Members of Congress should be graded. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including environmental health and safety protections, resource conservation, and spending for environmental programs. Scores are calculated by dividing the number of pro-environment votes by the total number of votes scored. The votes included in this Scorecard presented Members of Congress with a real choice on protecting the environment and help distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection. Except in rare circumstances, the Scorecard excludes consensus action on the environment and issues on which no recorded votes occurred.
To: Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Dear Administrator Leavitt:
We are writing to urge you to take prompt and effective action to clean up mercury pollution from power plants. The EPA�s current proposals on mercury fall far short of what the law requires, and they fail to protect the health of our children and our environment. We ask you to carry out the requirements of the Clean Air Act to protect our nation from toxic mercury contamination.
On January 30, 2004, EPA proposed two alternative rules to address mercury emissions. Unfortunately, both of these proposals fail to meet the Clean Air Act directives for cleaning up mercury. EPA's proposals permit far more mercury pollution, and for years longer, than the Clean Air Act allows.
The toxicity of mercury has been proven time and again by scientists around the world. The Agency's own scientists just released a study finding that approximately 630,000 infants were born in the US in the 12-month period, 1999-2000, with blood mercury levels higher than what is considered safe. This is a doubling of previous estimates.
The newest scientific studies show that controlling mercury emissions works. As we saw in Florida, sharp reductions in mercury pollution are mirrored by reductions in nearby fish populations. A study in northern Wisconsin indicated that reductions in the input of mercury from air corresponded with marked reductions in mercury fish tissue levels in the 1990s.
As the Administrator of the EPA, you have the legal authority and the responsibility to address mercury emissions and protect public health. We do not believe that EPA's current proposals are sufficient or defensible. We urge you to withdraw the entire proposed rule package and re-propose a rule for adequate public comment that meets the terms of the 1998 settlement agreement and is promulgated by the December 15, 2004 deadline.
OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: To establish a congressional commission to examine the Federal, State, and local response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Region, especially in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas impacted in the aftermath, and make immediate corrective measures to improve such responses in the future.
LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Rollcall vote #229; lost 44-54.
Congressional Summary:Amends the Animal Welfare Act to define a "high volume retail breeder" as a person who, in commerce, for compensation or profit: has an ownership interest in or custody of one or more breeding female dogs; and sells more than 50 of the offspring of such dogs for use as pets in any one-year period. Considers such a breeder of dogs to be a dealer.
Promulgates requirements for the exercise of dogs at facilities owned or operated by high volume retail breeders, including requiring daily access to exercise that allows the dogs to move sufficiently in a way that is not forced, repetitive, or restrictive; and is in an area that is spacious, cleaned at least once a day, free of infestation by pests or vermin, and designed to prevent the dogs from escaping.
Opponent's Comments (GSDCA, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America):In the past, legislation has excluded home/hobby breeders. This bill would, for the first time, require home/hobby breeders to follow the strict USDA requirements, such as engineering standards designed for large commercial kennels and not homes. Such regulations would exceedingly difficult to meet in a home/residential breeding environment. If passed, PUPS would disastrously reduce purposely-bred pups for the public.
There is nothing in this bill that changes the status of already known substandard kennel violators. There is no increase in funding for additional inspectors, nor is increased inspection evaluation education included.
Dogs purposely bred for showing, trialing or other events often are not bred for several years due to many different reasons. Some of these dogs may never be bred, yet are included in the count.
Working kennels maintain a large dog population while they are evaluating dogs; if the dogs do not work out for the purpose for which they were intended, they are often sold as pets. This could bring those working/training kennels under USDA regulations.
112th Mid-Term Humane Scorecard: The Humane Society Legislative Fund has posted the final version of the 2011 Humane Scorecard, where you can track the performance of your federal lawmakers on key animal protection issues during last year. We rated legislators based on their voting behavior on measures such as agribusiness subsidies, lethal predator control, and the Endangered Species Act; their cosponsorship of priority bills on puppy mills, horse slaughter, animal fighting, and chimps in research; their support for funding the enforcement of animal welfare laws; and their leadership on animal protection. All of the priority bills whose cosponsorships we're counting enjoy strong bipartisan support; in the House, each of the four now has more than 150 cosponsors.
The Humane Scorecard is not a perfect measuring tool, but creating some reasonable yardstick and allowing citizens to hold lawmakers accountable is central to our work. When the Humane Scorecard comes out each year, it helps clarify how the animal protection movement is doing geographically, by party affiliation, and in other categories. It helps us chart our course for animals by seeing where we have been effective, and where we need to improve.
Congressional Summary:Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to prohibit the EPA or a state from requiring a permit for a discharge into navigable waters of a pesticide authorized under FIFRA. Excepts stormwater discharges and discharges of manufacturing or industrial effluent.
Proponent's argument for bill:(Blue Ridge Times-News, April 2013): Sen. Kay Hagan announced a bill to eliminate a "redundant and burdensome" requirement that 365,000 pesticide users get a CWA permit before spraying in or near lakes and streams. Farmers and other chemical users already have to meet stringent requirements for pesticide application under FIFRA, Hagan said, and the CWA permit only adds a duplicative, unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. Hagan said the "overlapping regulations" have also forced some municipalities to cut down on spraying for mosquitoes "because they don't have the manpower (to deal with the extra red tape), and they fear lawsuits."
Opponent's argument against bill: (Oregon Sierra Club newsletter Dec. 2012): Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" turned 50 this fall: it catalyzed the environmental movement [by focusing on pesticides like DDT]. Today we still face the issues she outlined in Silent Spring. Pesticide law and regulation in the US is a case study in corporate capture: beholden to the farm lobby in Congress, all the way back to the 1947 formation of FIFRA.
FACT: From 1988 to 1995, more than 65 bills were introduced in Congress to tighten pesticide regulations. None of them passed.
FACT: In the late 1990s, two separate investigations revealed that more than half of all former top-level pesticide regulators at the EPA subsequently went to work for, or were paid by, pesticide and chemical industry interests actively involved in fighting EPA efforts to protect the public from pesticides.
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Format: PAL Region: 0 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Duration: 75 minutes
First Pasture Price: £9.99
Status: In Stock
Trewint Farm in Cornwall is renowned throughout the world for its prize winning herd of pedigree South Devon cattle. Stuart Rowe purchased Trewint just after the war. It is now owned and managed by Stuart's son Peter with assistance from his own son, Ashley.
This film follows a complete farming year showing many of the processes that go into running and maintaining a modern, successful livestock farm. The South Devon herd is featured throughout affording a unique look at this traditional breed. Also featured is the Suffolk and Border Leicester sheep flock, a visit to Liskeard's Wool Marketing Board depot, an extensive look at the bovine TB testing regime following a TB outbreak at Trewint in 2007, plus a look at some pristine classic and vintage tractors.
Also included is a featurette detailing the history of the South Devon breed with Caroline Poultney, Secretary of the South Devon Herd Book Society and Philip Warren, a local butcher.
For quick reference of all farming dvds available within the shop, visit the Farming DVDs A-Z page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kverk Sarak, 56, and his family of five have lived in the Cambodian village of O'Rona their entire lives. They are part of an indigenous Bunong community that has lived for countless generations in the Seima Protection Forest in the southeastern corner of Cambodia near the Vietnam border. Like his Bunong neighbors and ancestors, Sarak uses the surrounding land to grow crops to feed his family and the forest to raise cash by producing non-timber forest products, including resin and honey.
Until recently, they were constantly threatened by the risk of land seizure by powerful or opportunistic individuals because they did not have a land title or other formal proof of ownership. In cases of land grabbing, families are often forced to migrate to new areas where they must clear more forest to establish settlements, contributing to an increasing rate of deforestation in Cambodia.
Between 2005 and 2010, Cambodia had the ninth highest rate of deforestation and forest loss—2 percent per year—of 180 countries, driven by land-use changes and illegal logging. This has threatened the livelihoods of thousands of indigenous villagers who have traditionally lived off the forest. It also has put various endangered and vulnerable species of animals and plants at risk, including Asian elephants, wild water buffalo and the Burmese rosewood tree, as well as the largest lowland dry evergreen forest remaining in mainland Southeast Asia.
While it is Cambodia's stated policy to conserve and protect the country's forests, the government also grants economic land concessions that can sometimes lead to increased deforestation and the eviction of communities. This threat continually hovers over families like those of Sarak's community.
With assistance from USAID, the livelihood of Sarak's family and his community is no longer in jeopardy. In May, Sarak's community was awarded a community land title, providing the residents with the rights of ownership to over 1,600 acres (650 hectares) of communal forests, farmland and village land.
"Before we obtained our land title, we always had to be concerned with land issues," said Sarak, the Bunong head of the O'Rona Community Forest Committee. "More than 247 acres (100 hectares) of our village forestland had already been illegally cleared by outsiders in the past. When we heard about land encroachment occurring somewhere near to us, we became even more nervous because we were scared that those people would come to steal our land."
Can Ecotourism Be Far Behind?
In 2006, Sarak and the 71 other households in his community formed an indigenous community group to begin the complicated process of seeking a community land title. With the process stalled at several levels, USAID's Supporting Forests and Biodiversity (SFB) project, which began in 2012, successfully brought community and government representatives together to complete the process.
The key to the SFB project is the use of constructive dialogue to foster trust between all stakeholders needed to make forest conservation work. "As seen through the perspective of earlier USAID programs, constructive engagement is successful if it includes indigenous communities and private sector firms, as well as local and provincial governments. This approach fosters sound management of natural forest resources and strengthens the wider economy in a sustainable manner," said Mission Director Rebecca Black.
The project also provides training in community forest management, the sustainable use of non-timber forest products, and ecotourism development.
This dialogue between community and government representatives led to the granting of the community land title in May 2013.
Community members supported by the program now have real reasons to enthusiastically protect their forests. The land titling has afforded them a renewed security that will allow them and their children to continue their traditional patterns of forest use. Secure land rights, moreover, could lead to cultural ecotourism, including increasingly popular home stays, which, in turn, could translate into increased tourist-related jobs.
Involved in the land titling process since 2006, Pet Phaktra, a government official with the Forestry Administration, underlined the importance of the forests to the well-being of the people in O'Rona. "That [forest] protection will also assist indigenous communities to generate income from forest services provided through ecotourism development while strengthening biodiversity conservation and mitigating climate change," he said.
SFB is now extending its support to five other indigenous villages in Cambodia to help them obtain the rights to continue managing the land they've lived on for generations. These communities expect to submit land claims for titling to the government within the next year, putting them one step closer to obtaining the same peace of mind as Sarak's community.
"We are now living with confidence," Sarak said. "We are working together to patrol the forest in order to prevent illegal activities that threaten our livelihoods. There is no one who can steal our land and we are not worried anymore. We will use these valuable resources in a sustainable manner so that they will provide long-term benefits to us and to our children."
This article was written by staff from USAID/Cambodia's Supporting Forests and Biodiversity project.


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HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Fresh off an intently combative debate, President Barack Obama, Republican Mitt Romney and their running mates are taking their tuned-up fight to the precious few battleground states where the election is still up for grabs with just 20 days to go.
In the sprint to the Nov. 6 Election Day, every aspect of the campaign seems to be taking on a fresh sense of urgency — the ads, the fundraising, the grassroots mobilizing and the outreach to key voting blocs, particularly women. Romney quietly began airing a new TV ad suggesting he believes abortion "should be an option' in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at stake.
The ad is an appeal to women voters, who polls show have favored Obama throughout the race although Romney has been making gains among them. Romney supported abortion rights as Massachusetts governor but now says he opposes abortion with limited exceptions. His campaign didn't announce the ad, but it began running on the debate night on stations that reach Virginia, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Romney was heading toVirginia and sending running mate Paul Ryan to Ohio — two states that Obama won four years ago where the GOP ticket has been making its most aggressive run. Obama was headed to Iowa, while Vice President Joe Biden was westward bound for Colorado and Nevada.
Obama appears to have 237 of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory comfortably in hand, and Romney is confident of 191. That leaves 110 electoral votes up for grabs in nine battleground states: Florida (29), Ohio (18), North Carolina (15), Virginia (13), Wisconsin (10), Colorado (9), Iowa (6), Nevada (6) and New Hampshire (4).
The two candidates debated Tuesday night as if their political lives depended on it, because they do. It was a re-energized Obama who showed up at Hofstra University, lifting the spirits of Democrats who felt let down by the president's limp performance in the candidates' first encounter two weeks ago.
But Romney knew what was coming and didn't give an inch, pressing his case even when the arguments deteriorated into did-not, didtoo rejoinders that couldn'thave done much to clarify the choice for undecided voters.
Tuesday's debate was the third installment in what amounts to a four-weeklong reality TV series for Campaign 2012. Romney was the clear victor in the series debut, Biden aggressively counterpunched in the nextup vice presidential debate, and the latest faceoff featured two competitors determined to give no quarter.
It was a pushy, interruptionfilled encounter filled with charges and countercharges that the other guy wasn't telling the truth. The two candidates were both verbally and physically at odds in the town hall-style format, at one point circling each other center stage like boxers in a prize fight.
"I thought it was a real moment,' Biden told NBC's "Today' show in an interview that aired Wednesday morning. "When they were kind of circling each other, it was like, 'Hey, come on man, let's level with each other here.'' One of the debate's tensest moments was when Romney suggested Obama's administration may have misled Americans over what caused the attack at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya,last month that killed four Americans. The issue is sure to continue to be debated next week, with the third and closing debate focused on foreign policy scheduled Monday at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
"As the facts come out about the Benghazi attack we learn more troubling facts by the day,' Ryan told "This Morning' on CBS. "So that's why need to get to the bottom of this to get answers so that we can prevent something like this from ever happening again.'
Romney, brimming with confidence, distilled the essence of his campaign message early in Tuesday's 90-minute debate and repeated it often.
"I know what it takes to get this economy going,' he said over and over. And this: "We can do better.' And this: "We don't have to settle for what we're going through.'
Obama, with both the benefit and the burden of a record to run on, had a more nuanced message.
"The commitments I've made, I've kept,' he said. "And those that I haven't been able to keep, it's not for lack of trying and we're going to get it done in a second term.'
Obama also was relentless in dismissing the merits of Romney's policies and rejecting his characterizations of the president's record.
"Governor Romney doesn't have a five-point plan,' the president argued. "He has a one-point plan. And that plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules.'
The candidates were in each other's faces — sometimes literally — before an audience of 82 uncommitted voters from New York. It's a state that's already a sure bet for Obama, but the voters there stood as proxy for millions of Americans across the nation still settling on a candidate.
"They spent a lot of time cutting down the other person,' said 22-year-old Joe Blizzard, who watched with a crowd of 500 students at the University of Cincinnati. "As someone who is undecided, it was a little disappointing.'
Fellow student Karim Aladmi, 21, was more forgiving. "It goes without saying that the knives were out,' he said. "I thought Obama had a strong performance, but Romney made him work for it. I was actually impressed by both sides.'
With just 20 days left until the election, polls show an extremely tight race nationally. While Republicans have made clear gains in recent days, the president leads in several polls of Wisconsin and Ohio. No Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio.
As the debates unfold, early voting is already under way in many states, and the push to bank as many early ballots as possible is in overdrive.
Democrats cheered when the Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Ohio voters to cast ballots on the three days before Election Day, rejecting a request by the state's Republican elections chief and attorney general to get involved in a rancorous battle over early voting. Obama's campaign and Ohio Democrats had sued state officials over changes in state law that took away the three days of voting for most people.
All of the political maneuvering was little more than noise for more than 1.3 million Americans: They've already voted.


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Physcial Sciences Division
Staff Awards & Honors
December 2009
Jay Grate Named Battelle Distinguished Inventor
Congratulations to Dr. Jay Grate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on being named a Battelle Distinguished Inventor. This award is given to Battelle staff who have 14 or more U.S. patents to their credit as a result of their work at Battelle or Battelle-operated national laboratories.
Grate's patents cover concepts in functional materials for biocatalysis and chemical sensing. For example, the BSP3 polymer. This unique material allows sensors to detect nerve agents and other toxic vapors. Sensors with a BSP3 coating can be used to monitor air quality in subways and buildings, and to protect first responders at terrorist or chemical incidents. Grate received an R&D100 award for this invention in 2004.
In addition, Grate has received several patents for his work in microscale column separations. These are relevant to the development of microfluidic bioanalytical separations and sensors for pathogen and botulinum toxin detection.
Several of Grate's patents have been licensed over the years through various mechanisms, working with PNNL's technology commercialization organization. These have included patents in the areas of bioseparations, sensing polymers, vapor preconcentration, radioanalytical separations, and, most recently, biocatalysis.
Throughout his career, Grate has worked with experts from other disciplines. "These patents are the result of the efforts of my research group and collaborators," said Grate. "Not just me alone."


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In securities fraud cases, a finance chief's expertise should not imply that he or she is guilty of intentional deception, according to a federal appeals court that recently overturned a former CFO's conviction.
The defendant's "presumed knowledge of GAAP as a qualified CFO does not make him criminally responsible for his every conceivable mistake," wrote Judge Richard Clifton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a decision made last month in the case of Prabhat Goyal. Goyal, who was finance chief of software company Network Associates (now McAfee) between 1997 and 2001, had been convicted in 2007 on 15 counts of securities fraud, filing false reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and making false statements to auditors while he was at Network Associates.
Tossing out the conviction, the appeals judges concluded the government's original case failed to show that Goyal had fraudulent intent. Their opinion highlights the difficulty that prosecutors have in sifting through the complexities of a CFO's position to find evidence that the executive "knowingly" falsified documents, which is considered a criminal act. Civil courts are better suited than criminal courts to deal with "conduct that falls in a gray area of arguable legality," according to Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, who wrote the concurring opinion in the acquittal.
The decision could cause prosecutors to forgo a criminal case if their proof of intent is shaky. "[The judges are saying] that criminal justice perhaps ought to be considered a last resort, not a first response," says Douglas Berman, a professor at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law.
In his opinion, which has attracted the attention of securities lawyers, Kozinski reprimanded prosecutors. "This is just one of a string of recent cases in which courts have found that federal prosecutors overreached by trying to stretch criminal law beyond its proper bounds," he wrote. His examples included the Department of Justice's failed case against Arthur Andersen in its probe against Enron's auditors.
In its original case, the government claimed that Network Associates violated generally accepted accounting principles by prematurely recognizing some revenue on deals with a distributor. Prosecutors disputed the company's use of sell-in accounting, which lets manufacturers record revenue when its products ship as long as it accounts for future rebates, discounts, and returns. The appeals court dropped Goyal's fraud charges by disagreeing that these alleged GAAP violations had a material effect on the company's overall revenue figures. (The judges did not weigh in on whether the company indeed did not follow GAAP.)
The appeals court also found that prosecutors failed to show that Goyal knowingly made false statements to his accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Part of the accusation stemmed from the fact that some letters were not shared with the auditors. These documents would have clarified the full sales terms Network Associates had with a business partner, which could have negated its ability to use sell-in accounting. But Goyal had contended that the auditors had access to "all sales terms," and the appeals court concluded that the letters did not constitute proof that Goyal "willfully and knowingly misled PWC."
Rather, by acquitting Goyal, the judges decided his only "crime" was fulfilling his CFO duties. "Goyal's desire to meet [Network Associates's] revenue targets, and his knowledge of and participation in deals to help make that happen, [are] simply evidence of Goyal's doing his job diligently," wrote Judge Clifton. Indeed, he added, "If simply understanding accounting rules or optimizing a company's performance were enough to establish scienter [knowledge of wrongdoing], then any action by a company's chief financial officer that a juror could conclude in hindsight was false or misleading could subject him to fraud liability without regard to intent to deceive."
Goyal's attorney, Seth Waxman of law firm WilmerHale, says his client "has done the CFO profession a great service by essentially making it clear to government prosecutors that there are limits to what truly constitutes wrongdoing or criminal behavior." Waxman says the appeals judges' decision to overturn his client's conviction and not send the case back to the lower court is unusual.
Still, Goyal's acquittal may not necessarily give comfort to finance executives concerned about their personal liability. "The reality in many white-collar investigations is that the target of the investigation doesn't know that he or she has done something wrong until the investigation has stopped and the government has picked things apart in hindsight," says Matthew Jacobs, a partner at law firm McDermott Will & Emery.


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The Green Bay Packers have been tight-lipped about the specifics of their plan to shore up a defense that ranked in the bottom third of the NFL last season.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, coach Mike McCarthy made it clear that 2013 first-round draft pick Datone Jones will have a big role in that turnaround.
One of the keys next season will be keeping Jones on the field. The Packers were counting on him as a key member of the defensive-line rotation until an August late-ankle sprain set him back as a rookie.
McCarthy believes Jones is a "very talented young man" and "one of those second-year players who makes a huge jump."
With Clay Matthews, Casey Hayward and Nick Perry also returning from injuries, the Packers will get more help from their own players than free agency.
Here's what else we learned from McCarthy on Friday:
» The coaching staff isn't actively trying to get smaller and lighter on the defensive line, but McCarthy did acknowledge the desire to increase athleticism and versatility up front. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the team is prepared to let wide-bodied B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickettwalk in free agency.
»Eddie Lacy's primary focus in 2014 will be to "play all three downs throughout the whole game." With DuJuan Harris returning from injury, Johnathan Franklin developing and James Starks hopefully re-signing, McCarthy believes the running-back rotation can be as good as he's ever had in Green Bay.
On the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the guys speculate on big names who could be cut, then talk offseason forecasts for the Packers and Raiders.


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A British Army colonel's life was saved by a US soldier who jumped in front of an assassin's hail of bullets, it has been reported.
The US Army reservist, who normally works for Apple, the Silicon Valley-based electronics company, was shot six times as an Afghan assailant opened fire on a group of high-ranking officers at a military training academy earlier this month, The Sunday Times said.
The reservist, who has not been named, used his body as a shield to literally "take a bullet" for the senior British officer, and was hit twice in the leg and once in the shoulder, with a further three rounds stopped by his bulletproof vest.
Details of the act of heroism were revealed in an American casualty report, the newspaper said.
It describes how the reservist returned fire with both his rifle and sidearm.
The attack by Mohammad Rafiqullah killed Major General Harold Greene, the deputy commanding general, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan.
Maj Gen Greene was the highest ranking US officer to be killed in hostilities since Lt Gen Timothy Joseph Maude was killed by a hijacked airliner that crashed into the Pentagon, on September 11, 2001. A similar ranking officer has not been killed overseas since the Vietnam War.
The attack took place during an outdoor briefing at the Marshal Fahim National Defence University, in Kabul, which also houses the British-run officer training academy known as "Sandhurst in the Sand".
The Afghan ministry of defence described the attacker as "a terrorist wearing Afghan National Army uniform".
Several other senior officers, including a German brigadier general and the Afghan commander of the training base, were among the 14 injured, which also included two Britons. Their injuries were said to be not life threatening.
The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.


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Posted by Editoress on 01/22/04
Clara Hughes may no longer be competing as a cyclist, but her years as a cycling competitor have shaped her and continue to inspire her.
This is Clara's latest journal entry.
Freedom Denied
by Clara Hughes
For the past fourteen years, I have traveled the world with the maple leaf on my back, representing Canada in sport. As another international departure approaches, I begin to think of the span of time I will spend away from home, and realize with a sense of sadness how ordinary this travel has become. Racing for Canada is always special, but the time away from home makes it tough. In the early days of competing it was such a thrill. I had no ties and felt at home wherever I opened my suitcase. As the years passed and I began to go to the same events time and time again, this freshness wore off.
After ten years of bike racing I became so sick of France, nightmares of being trapped in the musty, smoky air of the Charles de Gaulle Airport left me gasping for air, relieved only upon the realization I was at home. The white food diet cyclists (white bread, white chicken, pork, pasta, rice, white cheese, plain white yogurt…) were fed made the French concept of gourmet as believable as the Loch Ness monster surfacing in Lake Ontario. The side of France that I knew was one of bad food, bitter coffee, and copious amounts of suffering through a glorious landscape I did not have the energy to take in.
When I returned to skating after ten years of cycling, it felt fresh again. New stamps were punched into my already ragged passport as the countries favoring winter sport were quite different. This lasted a couple of trips due mainly to where my life had progressed at that point. I was no longer the young, unattached athlete I once was. I was married and had found a home so beautiful in a peaceful environment that it hurts me each time I have to leave. My husband and I had settled in the quaint Eastern Townships of Quebec, which offered a culture and a landscape we both felt a deep attachment to. We finally had found home, only couldn't be there as much as we wanted. The pangs of homesickness grew stronger and stronger as I continued on this path, building to this day. Still, I love what I do, and would swim the width of an ocean to get to that starting line. It's just not always easy to be on the road.
However, as I sit and reflect on this travel, and think back to some of the experiences it has allowed, I realize how unique it has been. The opportunities have been incredible to the point of, at times, bizarre. So unique that I wonder if that was really me passing through all that has happened.
My first foray in the National Cycling Team jersey found me in Cuba. It was 1991, and the Pan American Games were held in Havana. Considering the history between the USA and Cuba, it was surprising the tropical island played host to the Games. I was entered in every endurance event, road and track, thrilled to travel and excited to compete against many of the girls from the USA that I had only seen in cycling magazines at that point in time.
When not racing or training my teammates and I would venture out of the village and watch different events. One particular evening we set out to the velodrome. The final for the men's 4000 m team pursuit was on and the USA faced the hometown, four-man team from Cuba. We heard rumors that Fidel Castro would attend and wanted to see, possibly more than the race itself, the infamous dictator in the flesh.
We found an open spot on the concrete steps making for public seating above the track. The hot, humid air was buzzing with energy. The place was packed to capacity; those not able to get in lined the barrier of chain-linked fence marking the boundary of the track where seating did not exist. They stood twenty deep, chanting CUBA-CUBA-CUBA. The track was on fire from the energy pumping out of the fans. People began to look over to the top of the track, rousing our curiosity. As we turned we saw the group of military men flanking a tall, poised man with a beard. It was Fidel, just as he looked in the magazines, on TV, and he was directly above us.
The starting pistol echoed in the damp, muggy air, triggering the start of the race and the roar of the Cuban fans. This was the 'people's games' and the patriot crowd danced and screamed, filled with passion and what seemed to be joy. Even Castro was on his feet, fists pumping, willing his young men to beat the Americans. It was more than a race; it was a statement of political power, however ridiculous that seemed to the rest of us (it was only a bike race!). One could see in the body language of the Cuban team on their out-dated Russian track bikes that victory was the only option.
Lap after lap the teams were flew around the concrete track at even speeds. Like a metronome, they crossed the line on virtually the same pace, as if set to the rhythm of each other. With one kilometer to go, the Cubans began to turn on a power and a will too strong for their opponents. It was as if the roar of the crowd, so intense at this point people in Miami must have thought a thunderstorm was rolling in from the distance, fed their very souls, propelling them around the track. With 400 m to go they had the other team in sight (starting on opposite sides of the track each team 'pursues' one another) and were certain of victory. The Americans knew this and gave one last effort, ultimately tearing themselves apart, finishing one by one, while the Cubans crossed the finish line, arms pumping, with tears streaming across their faces. They had succeeded for the people, in front of the feared dictator who had the power to make their lives comfortable as a result of this! success; miserable had the result been opposite. People around us cried, they danced, they sang out in joy.
Fidel made his way down to the track, flanked by military men, and approached his cyclists who had just beaten the Americans. Beaten them on the playing field of sport, motivating his people enough to forget, perhaps, for a moment the state of poverty most of them were forced to live in as a result of his regime. I felt like I was watching a documentary on the history channel, yet there I was, only 20 feet from Castro himself.
The crowds carrying the team of four on their shoulders lowered the young men to the track surface. Castro shook their hands as more tears of pride and joy streamed down their faces. Tinny music blared through the low-tech speakers high above the track, signifying the start of the medal presentation. The gold medals were presented first, Castro hanging the golden reward around the necks of the victors. He presented the silver medal of defeat; symbolic to Castro I'm sure, to the Americans.
As the Cuban flag raised high in the damp, dark sky, nationals around me wept, fists pumping high as the tinny rendition of their anthem came to an end. Castro made his way out, crowds cheering his name, waving stoically to his people.
We sat in awe, knowing this event was symbolic to the people surrounding me, feeling we were in another era so bizarre and foreign compared to the concept I had of sport. When examined closely it was not what it seemed, as most events of this nature are. That the Americans had sent their second-tier team (the best riders were in Germany preparing for the World Championships that same week) was insignificant. It was country against country, and with a Cuban victory, as far as Fidel was concerned, the island nation would rise victorious, defeating the mighty Americans. The small island prevailed and victory was Fidel's. I was aware of this facade, but the people around us seemed neither to know, or perhaps not to care.
I felt happy that they were happy, if for only a moment forgetting the dire straights they lived in, day in and day out. If for a moment forgetting about the rations they were forced to subside on leading up to the Games, during the Games, after the Games, all so food would be sent to the athlete's village, instead of their children's mouths. I felt badly for how much I had complained about the week prior: how bad the food was, how hard the beds were, how different it was than home. The people around me with so little had so much. They were stripped of material worth, things that we as Canadians have accumulated as a right, not a privilege. They had what money cannot buy. They had a dignity that shined through their poverty, and a spirit more beautiful than anything I had been exposed to at that point in my life.
When looking back at this experience, I realize how fortunate I am to be born in Canada and what a gift the opportunities that have been offered to me have been. The real freedom is that I've had the choice to make things happen. These are privileges not to be taken for granted. Representing Canada and not having to create such an illusion that I witnessed in Cuba is a freedom as well. It is not political power that I am trying to exude, but instead a feeling of hope that I strive to portray. Sport, for me, is the opportunity to show people, of all nations, what it is like to follow one's bliss in life; to have a dream and to have the courage to go after it with passion. Competing has allowed for moments, however fleeting they have been, in my life where I have felt the rapture of being alive as a human being; moments want the world to feel and be inspired by.
As I prepare for another trip overseas, this reflection has allowed me to revisit my motivations, and realize how precious this opportunity is. After fourteen years of being on the road, though it takes some reminding, and is often difficult for reasons already explained, I am beginning to feel excited to board that plane. You never know what waits to be experienced in the horizon.
Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top |


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Pherlure Cologne
If you're like most guys, I'm willing to bet you've had your mind on S.M.S. all day long. What in the hell is S.M.S. you ask? It's the three things any real guy truly cares about: Sex, Money and Sports. Today, we'll talk about a product that can help you with the first subject matter.
Regardless of your current relationship status, chances are you would gladly welcome the opportunity to increase how much sex you currently have. Whether it's three times a week with your new girlfriend, or if you've been in a dry spell for the past three months since your last hook up at the club, when it comes to sex, the more the better. Agreed?
If you're serious about doing better with women, you have to consider every possible factor that will give you an edge. Sure, you can join online dating sites and work on your rap, and upgrading your wardrobe might also be a good idea. But sometimes that just isn't enough.
Have you ever been in a situation where you've been told you smell great by a woman, even though you weren't wearing any cologne? Your body was likely giving off pheromones – odorless chemicals the body produces that influence sexual behavior. Exciting stuff to say the least. But unfortunately, research has shown that more than 95% of guys don't produce enough of these pheromones naturally on a regular basis to trigger any sexual response in the opposite sex. This may explain why it seems that only 5% of the male population is regularly hooking up with the entire female population.
If you're looking for that extra edge, it would only make sense for you to add pheromones to your everyday routine. The bad news is that there are many bogus products claiming to be pheromones that are sold on the internet and in the back of sleazy magazines. Steer clear of these, as they simply don't work.
The good news is that there is a genuine pheromone product that we've tested and recommend. It's called Pherlure Cologne and it actually has a proprietary pheromone formula that can help you get an edge. Simply put, Pherlure Cologne helps men attract women.
The beauty of Pherlure is that it's subtle enough not to be detected, but it still smells great. It can also be used together with your usual cologne. Also, you don't have to drench yourself with the stuff. Just a small dose of Pherlure will work wonders.
Pherlure Cologne works for most guys that try it, but if for whatever reason it doesn't work for you, you can return it for a full refund. So go ahead and try it; you've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.


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MEDIA RELEASE July 31, 2007 |
In competition with students from 92 other countries, Canadian high school students have done extremely well. Four students won medals and one student received an honourable mention at the 48thInternational Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Hanoi, Vietnam, from July 19 to July 31, 2007.
The six students who competed for Canada were: Kent Huynh, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto (Ontario); Steven Karp, Lord Byng Secondary School, Vancouver (British Columbia); Jonathan Schneider, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto (Ontario); Yan (Cynthia) Li, Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute, Scarborough (Ontario); Alexander Remorov, William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute, North York (Ontario); and Chengyue (Jarno) Sun, Western Canada High School, Calgary (Alberta).
The team was accompanied by the Team Leader Dr. Bill Sands (University of Calgary), Calgary, Alberta, the Deputy Team Leader, Mr. Adrian Tang (University of Calgary) and the Deputy Observer, Ms. Minh-Lac Bui.
At the Closing Ceremony on July 30th, a Silver Medal was awarded to Alexander Remorov and Bronze Medals to Kent Huynh, Steven Karp, and Yan (Cynthia) Li. Chengyue (Jarno) Sun received an Honourable Mention.
"It was a very good result from a new and young team. We are very pleased with the team performance and the four medals they received and I am proud of their achievements" said Bill Sands.
"The IMO is the world championship high school mathematics competition. The problems were difficult and the Canadian students have done very well. They demonstrated the problem solving skills, knowledge and creativity that is so essential to compete at this very high level," said Dr. Graham Wright, Executive Director of the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS), the organization responsible for the selection and training of Canada's IMO team.
Although students compete individually, country rankings are obtained by adding the team scores. The maximum score for each student is 42 and for a team of six students the maximum is 252. The Canadian team placed 27th out of 93 competing countries with a score of 98.
Since 1981, Canadian students have received a total of 16 gold, 35 silver, and 61 bronze medals. The six members of the Canadian IMO team were selected from among more than 200,000 students who participated in local, provincial and national mathematics contests. Prior to leaving for the 48th IMO, the team trained at the University of Calgary and at the Banff International Research Station (BIRS) in Banff, Alberta from July 6th to July 22nd. For the first time, the Mexican team joined the Canadian team for the training sessions at BIRS.
The 2007 IMO contest was set by an international jury of mathematicians, one from each country, and was written on Wednesday July 25th and Thursday July 26th. On each day of the contest, three questions had to be solved within a time limit of four and a half hours. Team members must be less than 20 years old when they write the IMO.
The top 10 teams and their scores are: Russia (184); China (181); South Korea (168); Vietnam (168); USA (155); Japan (154); Ukraine (154); North Korea (151); Bulgaria (149); and Taiwan (149).
The team will be returning to Canada today (July 31st), in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. For further details contact the Canadian Mathematical Society.
Sponsors of the 2007 Canadian IMO team include: the Canadian Mathematical Society; the Imperial Oil Foundation; Sun Life Financial; the Ontario Ministry of Education; Alberta Learning; Nova Scotia Department of Education; the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Education; the Northwest Territories Ministry of Education; the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education; the Samuel Beatty Fund; Maplesoft; the Banff International Research Station; the Fields Institute; the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences; University of Calgary; the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Brunswick at Fredericton; the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Ottawa; the Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto; the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing, University of Waterloo and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University.
The 49thInternational Mathematical Olympiad will take place in Madrid, Spain, in July 2008.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Graham P. Wright
Executive Director
Canadian Mathematical Society
613-562-5702 (CMS Office)
613-290-3046 (Cell)


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2013 Buffalo-Area Farmers' Market Guide
This guide means that sunny weather is finally coming to stay, right? RIGHT?
Rain, shine or thundersnow (seriously, Buffalo?), there is nothing that can hold the farmers' market fanatics back during the summer months in Western New York. And if you've ever been to one, I'm sure you understand why: fresh fruits and veggies, beautiful flowers, wine tastings...even on Buffalo's most "air conditioning is my best friend"-esque days is a trip to the market worth it.
So to get you excited for the coming months, here is our list of some of the area's top farmers' markets.
Where: 13119 Broadway
When: Every Saturday starting May 11, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Blasdell Farmers' Market
Where: 3785 South Park Ave. in the Ilio DiPaolo's parking lot
When: Every Wednesday starting May 2, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Clarence Hollow Farmers' Market
Where: 10717 Main St.
When: Every Saturday June through October, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Rain or shine.
Clinton Bailey Farmers' Market
Where: 1443-1517 Clinton St.
When: Open year-round, rain or shine, 6 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays until May 1. Starting May 1 until November 1, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.
Downtown Country Market
Where: Main Street between Court and Church Streets
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday starting May 16, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
East Aurora Farmers' Market
Where: Grey Street
When: Every Wednesday and Saturday starting May 4, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers' Market
Where: Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Avenue
When: Every Saturday starting May 11, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hamburg Farmers' Market
Where: Village of Hamburg Municipal Parking Lot
When: Every Saturday starting May 4, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Kenmore Farmers' Market
Where: The Village Green at Delaware Avenue and Delaware Road
When: Every Saturday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lancaster Market
Where: 4913 Transit Road in the Lancaster Lanes Parking Lot
When: Every Saturday and Sunday starting May 5, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Saturday) and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Sunday)
Market at the Mill
Where: 56 E. Spring St., Williamsville
When: Every Saturday starting May 18, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
North Tonawanda City Market
Where: Robinson Road at Payne
When: Every Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday year-round, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
University Community Farmers' Market
Where: UB South Campus (Main Street at Kenmore)
When: Every Saturday starting May 18, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Find the nearest farmers' market on this handy-dandy map!
View Buffalo-Area Farmers' Market Guide in a larger map
Contributed by Ashley Steves


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As we close in on the one-week anniversary of the unexpected news that the Patriots have signed Tim Tebow, everything to be said about the move has been said.
And then some.
Except one thing: The Jets will pay more for Tebow in 2013 than the Patriots will in 2013 and 2014 combined.
Connecting the dots was Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. The Jets owe the Broncos $1.53 million in salary that was advanced to Tebow in 2011. The Patriots owe Tebow $1.36 million, if they keep him for two full years.
That disparity alone is reason enough for the Patriots to give Tebow the last spot on the 53-man roster -- and to find a way to use him in meaningful fashion against the Jets twice this year, and twice next year.


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Click below for UFC Live - Hardy vs. Lytle main card results...
MILWAUKEE, WI, August 14 – Ben Henderson has had more than his share of memorable fights over the course of his career, and his UFC Live co-main event against Jim Miller Sunday night at Bradley Center was no exception. But none had the weight on it that this one did, and "Smooth" stepped up in style, pounding out a three round unanimous decision win over Miller that halted the lightweight contender's seven fight winning streak and pushed Henderson into the 155-pound title picture. Watch post-fight interview
"Waves pound, the ocean goes, I beat people up, that's what I do," smiled Henderson.
Scores were 30-27, 30-26 and 29-28.
From the opening bell, Miller was intent on taking every opportunity he could to finish, even if it included leaping onto Henderson while trying to lock up a choke. Henderson was "Smooth" in his escape as he used it to score a takedown, but Miller's relentless attack wasn't slowing, as he tried for a submission from his back and then a guillotine as he sat up. All the while, Henderson kept his hands moving, and he kept himself in the scoring column with his strikes, making it an interesting round to score.
Some toe-to-toe slugging took place as the second round commenced, with Henderson holding a slight edge. The former WEC champ then secured a takedown and fired away from the ground as Miller searched for any limb he could secure. Midway through the round, Miller caught Henderson's leg briefly, but as Henderson escaped, Miller got back to the feet. After a quick exchange moments later, Henderson took Miller down again, with the bloodied New Jersey native trying for a kimura. Like Houdini, Henderson found an escape hatch, and he ended the round with another series of ground strikes as the crowd erupted.
With Henderson leading the cheers before the final round began, the two lightweight standouts got right back to work, with Miller now sporting a cut on his left cheek as he marched forward. A left dropped Henderson, but it was a flash knockdown, as the Arizonan ended Miller's follow-up with a takedown. By the midway point of the round, Henderson took Miller's back, and as Miller tried to slam his way out of trouble, Henderson almost locked in a rear naked choke. Now it was Miller's turn to show his magic, and though he escaped, it was into a barrage of crushing strikes from Henderson. The courageous Miller took every shot, but his odds of pulling off a miracle comeback late were dwindling, and it was Henderson almost finishing things with a guillotine as the bout entered the final 30 seconds. After pulling loose, Miller engaged with Henderson in some more toe-to-toe action as the Bradley Center rocked, and rightfully so.
With the win, Henderson ups his record to 14-2; Miller falls to 20-3.
CERRONE vs. OLIVEIRA
After a 2-0 start to his UFC career, Brazilian lightweight Charles Oliveira is now 0-2 with 1 NC in his last three bouts after Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone scored a dominating first round TKO win over "Do Bronx." Watch post-fight interview
Cerrone went on the attack at the opening bell, landing a series of hard kicks before an inadvertent low kick brought a momentary stop to the action. Undeterred, Cerrone continued to walk down his foe with kicks to the body and legs, but Oliveira willingly stood in the pocket with him. That was a mistake, as a hard body shot was followed by a knee as Oliveira tried to pull guard to recover. Cerrone wasn't having it, and he unleashed a ferocious series of strikes on his grounded opponent, forcing referee Mario Yamasaki to halt the bout at 3:01 of the opening stanza.
With the win, Cerrone improves to 16-3 with 1 NC; Oliveira falls to 14-2 with 1 NC.
LUDWIG vs. SADOLLAH
Veteran lightweight Duane "Bang" Ludwig got a willing foil to show off his world-renowned kickboxing skills in the main card opener, and he delivered, but so did opponent Amir Sadollah, as the two put on an exciting three rounder won via decision by Ludwig. Watch post-fight interview
All three judges scored it 29-28 for Ludwig, who ups his record to 29-11; Sadollah falls to 6-3.
As expected, there was some quality striking from both fighters, with Sadollah working well with his punches and kicks from long range, and Ludwig doing his best work from the clinch. But after the two broke after an extended clinching session, Ludwig found his rhythm and began tagging Sadollah with hard long-distance kicks to the head and body which were mixed in with solid strikes as well. With 90 seconds left, Ludwig staggered Sadollah with a punch to the head, prompting a tie up by Sadollah. After breaking, Ludwig continued to punish Sadollah, this time directing his attack to the body and head, capping off a big round.
The gutsy Sadollah didn't stray from his gameplan in round two, and he eagerly met Ludwig in the center of the Octagon for more standup action. After the 60 second between rounds break, Sadollah seemed to have his bearings back and he battled Ludwig on even terms when it came to workrate. When it came to power though, Ludwig had a decided edge, rocking his foe with a left to the head with under two minutes left. In the final minute, Ludwig surprisingly shot for a takedown, but was turned away. He didn't get rattled though, as he simply went back to his standup attack until the bell.
Sadollah finally got his takedown early in the third round, but Ludwig shot back up immediately. The Ultimate Fighter season seven winner kept pressing, landing a hard kick to the head, but just when he would land a few solid shots, Ludwig would fire back with his own combinations. Sadollah would not stop throwing though, despite fatigue and the dangerous opponent across from him, and he looked to briefly jar "Bang" with a punch in the final minute. Ludwig got a takedown in the final minute to add to his score total, but this was a fight that will be remembered by the standup turned in by both men, not any groundwork.


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Which sessions of work are more productive for programming: short (<= 30 minutes), mid-length or long (>= 2 hours)? In which cases? (Consider coding new functionality, doing small modifications, tweaking UI, refactoring, debugging, learning API, trying to understand other's code).
What can you tell from your experiences? Information from studies and best practices are also very welcome. Though it would be nice to see links or references.
Reliable information is prefered over complete answer.
Valuable takeaways:
- Focused thinking is the ultimate target here
- Generally uninterrupted work > 2-3 hours yields loosing focus and foggy thoughts
- When you are in flow, it's better to let yourself to work for 1-2 hours
- It worth to try practicing Pomodoro Technique, for helping to overcome thinking inertia and procrastination, to get better feeling of time. Especially it can help to start doing things that you don't like doing that much
- When using 'break management' software, you can allow yourself to be more flexible, e.g. to skip 1 break but not more. This allows you to adopt to the situation: be in flow, when there is a flow, stay manageable when are not in flow
- Fresh air, relaxing and excercises during break can help to get involved right hemisphere to get new ideas and solutions
Try software tools for 'break management':
- Pomodairo - it additionally tracks list of tasks and has pice UI
- WorkRave - provides more flexibility in configuring. also usable without speakers


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1. Spiral Stair (Australia)
Fascinating spiral stairs at Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia. 6.5 revs and five stories from top to bottom.(Link - Photo)
2. Spiral Staircase at the Vatican Museum (Italy)
The Vatican Museums spiral staircase is one of the most photographed in the world, and certainly one of the most beautiful. Designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932, the broad steps are somewhere between a ramp and a staircase. The stairs are actually two separate helixes, one leading up and the other leading down, that twist together in a double helix formation. Little did theVatican Museum know in 1932 that this formation would come to represent life itself, with the discovery of the double helical DNA strand. (Link)Fascinating spiral stairs at Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia. 6.5 revs and five stories from top to bottom.(Link - Photo)
2. Spiral Staircase at the Vatican Museum (Italy)
3. Loretto Chapel Staircase (USA)
The Loretto Chapel is a chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, known for its unusual spiral staircase that is an exceptional work of carpentry. The construction and builder of the staircase are considered a miracle by the Sisters of Loretto and many who visit it, because it had no central support (a support was added later). The resulting staircase is an impressive work of carpentry. It ascends twenty feet, making two complete revolutions up to the choir loft without the use of nails or apparent center support. It has been surmised that the central spiral of the staircase is narrow enough to serve as a central beam. Nonetheless there was no attachment unto any wall or pole in the original stairway. Instead of metal nails,the staircase was constructed using dowels or wooden pegs. The wood for the staircase cannot be found anywhere in the region. The stairs had 33 steps, the age of Jesus when he died. The mystery had never been satisfactorily solved as to who the carpenter was or where he got his lumber, since there were no reports of anyone seeing lumber delivered or even seeing the man come and go whilethe construction was being done. Since he left before the Mother Superior could pay him, the Sisters of Loretto offered a reward for the identity of the man, but it was never claimed.
Note: some historians claime that most of this story is a MYTH. (Thanks, drxwes) (Link 1 Link 2 Photo)
4. Tulip Staircase at the Queen's House (England)
The elegant Tulip Stairs in the Queen's House are the first geometric self-supporting spiral stairs in Britain. Although called the 'Tulip Stairs,' it is thought that the stylized flowers in the wrought-iron balustrade are actually fleurs-de-lis, as this was the emblem of the Bourbon family of which Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I) was a member. The Tulip Stairs are also the location of the Rev R. W. Hardy's famous 'ghost' photograph taken on 19 June 1966, which when developed revealed what appear to be two or three shrouded figures onthe staircase. (Link Photo)
5. Staircase at Lello Bookshop (Portugal)
This interesting grand staircase in Lello Bookshop in Portugal stands ominous and heavy. The steps are like two channels pouring and swirling to a single point. The side view gives you a closer idea of the immense curves and giddy sinking feeling to each step. (Link)
6. San Francisco's Tiled Steps - World's Longest Mosaic Stair (USA)
The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, perhaps the world's longest mosaic staircase (163 steps, 82' high), was conceived and fabricated by Irish ceramicist Aileen Barr and San Francisco mosaic artist Colette Crutcher. Over a two and a half year period, a tireless group of neighbors raised funds and lobbied city government to make the project, unveiled in August 2005, a reality. Over 2000 handmade tiles and 75,000 fragments of tile, mirror and stained glass went into the finished piece, located at 16th Ave. and Moraga, in San Francisco. (Link)
7. Umschreibung - KPMG Building Munich (Germany)
This artistic staircase designed by Olafur Eliasson is called Umschreibung (Rewriting), and was completed in 2004. It's in the courtyard of the global accounting firm KPMG in Munich. (Photo Link)
8. Stairs at the Longchamp Store (New York)
Constructed in 1¼" hot-rolled steel and taking six months to be built, the sta ir landscape weighs 55 tons and is an installation of ribbon-like forms that divide and converge to form a topography of walkways, landings and steps. (Link)
9. Vertigo Staircase at the QVB Building (Australia)
This image shows "The Grand Staircase" of Sydney's Grand Queen Victoria Building. This building, now affectionately known as the QVB, wasdesigned by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen – stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists – in a worthwhile project. (Link)
10. Bridge-stair at the Traversinertobel (Switzerland)


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Toutes nos excuses, cette page n'a pas encore été traduite. L'équipe Localization d' Emarsys est en train d'y remédier et souhaite vous proposer toute la documentation en Français!
The Lead Lifecycle tab gives you a detailed breakdown of the current state of all your lead lifecycle stages.
The two graphs split the leads up by lifecycle stage and by source (i.e. how they entered your database).
Lead Lifecycle Status
Leads are categorized as contacts who have not yet made a purchase. Within this they are split up as follows (the exact parameters are defined during the setup process):
- New Lead – Registration was within the last 90 days, no response yet (beyond opt-in).
- Active Lead – At least one response in the last 90 days.
- Cold Lead – No response for more than 90 days.
- Inactive Lead – No response for more than 180 days.
Leads who purchase on the very first day of their registration do not count as leads (these contacts are not displayed in the conversion rate or any graphs as leads). Instead, they are counted directly as First-time buyers.
Lead Source
Any forms through which leads have registered are shown her. If you have too many forms to show on this graph, it can be customized during the setup process.


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This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
Read the magazine story to find out more. |
ARS Scientists Collaborate to Increase Irrigation Accuracy
By Laura McGinnisOctober 7, 2005
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories in South Carolina, Montana and Colorado are combining traditional equipment and cutting-edge tools in a system that provides just the right amount of irrigation.
Researchers at the ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center at Florence, S.C., are assessing variables such as soil quality, crop type and temperature to determine when and where to irrigate. Through several years of testing, scientists have modified their center-pivot systems to distribute water more accurately.
Scheduling irrigations to meet crop demands is a challenge, but sprinkler systems are being developed to meet it. Current research is investigating the benefits of variable-rate irrigation.
Frequently, soil, topography and water needs vary within a field. For instance, a 14-acre field in Florence could have 12 different soil types. Precision irrigation, according to ARS agricultural engineer Kenneth Stone at Florence, aims to match water application with soil variations and crops. More precise delivery of water, nutrients and pesticides means higher yields and environmental benefits.
Excessive watering, a chronic pitfall, can leach chemicals into groundwater. Wet plant leaves are more vulnerable to disease from moisture-loving fungi, increasing the need for fungicides.
In Sidney, Mont., Robert Evans, an agricultural engineer at the ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, investigates how GPS, wireless communications and real-time microclimate and soils monitoring will allow traditional irrigation equipment to deliver water and nutrients across varying landscapes with greater precision.
Dale F. Heermann, a collaborator at the ARS Water Management Research Unit in Fort Collins, Colo., and his colleagues developed a computer program called Center Pivot Evaluation and Design that models water distribution and predicts irrigation uniformity. Heermann's group has also developed technology allowing farmers to reduce herbicide use without yield losses.
ARS researchers strive to improve efficiency and environmental consequences of traditional irrigation techniques. Great progress has been made, but Evans believes the best is yet to come.
Read more about the research in the October 2005 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.
ARS is the U.S. Department of Agricultures chief in-house scientific research agency.


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At a time when a prolonged slowdown in the domestic market has prompted automobile majors to revisit production plans and lower sales targets, a handful of models such as the Maruti Suzuki DZire, the Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) XUV500 and Renault Duster have managed to retain consumer interest and strong demand pull.
Seven models from these three companies on Thursday together have pending orders of 180,000 units. These amount to as much as 80 per cent of the average monthly sales of 218,000 units recorded by 130-odd passenger vehicle models in the industry.
Market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), with four winners in its portfolio, commands the lion's shares of these bookings. With pending orders of 147,000 units, the company has orders equivalent to one and a half months of production for MSIL.
It has already delivered 20,000 units of the revamped Alto it launched on October 16 and has in its kitty another 19,000 bookings. The Swift, DZire and Ertiga have, meantime, bagged additional orders of 127,000 units, deliveries of which are now likely to stretch to the end of this financial year.
Says Mayank Pareek, chief operating officer (sales & marketing), MSIL, "We have increased production capacity for the Swift, the DZire and the Ertiga. But the demand is such that it continues to outstrip supply and, unfortunately, there is some waiting period on all three models."
These bookings have come at a time when the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has cut its sales growth projections for the passenger vehicle industry to eight to 10 per cent from the 11-13 per cent forecast earlier for the current financial year.
V G Ramakrishnan, senior director (automotive practice, South Asia, West Asia and North Africa), Frost & Sullivan, says, "There are three types of growth which take place in the industry – one generated by entry-level buyers who are most susceptible to hikes in finance rates, the second by a consumer set where price elasticity does not impact demand substantially and the third by new models. While the Swift and DZire are premium cars where interest rate hikes and strong brand loyalty have not affected sales, new models Ertiga, XUV500, Quanto and Duster have opened new consumer segments by offering value-added products at affordable price points."
Further, all these models (except the Alto) have diesel variants, which have helped in converting into purchase decisions the enquiries of fuel-cost conscious buyers.
So, Mahindra, with pending orders of around 17,000 units of the XUV500 and another 6,200 bookings for the Quanto, is now doing the reverse of what many car makers in the industry are engineering in the form of production cuts.
"We have expanded capacity to roll out 5,000 units of the XUV500 every month. The demand generated by the Quanto has also necessitated that we increase production of the vehicle by 40 per cent. We will produce 3,500 units of the Quanto from the unit in Nashik by January next year," says Pravin Shah, chief executive officer (automotive division).
The Duster, with bookings of a little over 11,000 units and a waiting period stretching up to 16 weeks, has thrown the previously not-so-well-known French car maker, Renault, on the automotive map in the fiercely competitive passenger vehicle market.